...Advertisement...

...Advertisement...

Gay marriage in California

For Monday, we are writing about the gay marriage decision in California. We'll urge Virginians to take a deep breath before trying to turn it into a November campaign issue. This decision does not affect the commonwealth, where voters shamefully ensconced bigotry in the state constitution. The decision is, however, an important step in slow movement toward marriage equality in America. Indeed, California found a ban on interracial marriage unconstitutional 20 years before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Comments

# 1

[May 16, 2008 11:27 AM]

Other John

I still feel that marriage is something that is between a man and a woman and is more specifically a religious term that should have no state involvement whatsoever. However, if churches or other religious institutions decide to permit or sanction gay marriages, then I think it should be perfectly acceptable and the state should just butt out since it is none of the state's concern of who marries who. And besides, just because some gay couples decide to get married, what impact does that have on heterosexual couple's marraiges? None. If some folks here in Virginia decide to get married and they happen to be gay, my marriage is not affected in any way, and neither is anyone else's. When you cut through the crap that's tossed around over this issue, banning gay marriages is really nothing more than one religious group working to impliment portions of what they beleive (in a religious sense) into state/federal law, thereby slowly transforming a republic (or what's left of it anyway) to a theocracy.

# 2

[May 16, 2008 11:59 AM]

Henry

Why just couples?

# 3

[May 16, 2008 8:39 PM]

Josh

Yeah, why not a threesome? a fivesome? Why not roommates? Why not the whole apartment building? Why not a person and the nice old lady across the street? Why not me and my cat? Who is anyone to demean or diminish whichever relationship I choose, and deny my right to marry (and receive the tax benefits) anybody or anything I choose?

# 4

[May 17, 2008 2:07 AM]

C Ramsey

So the California Supreme Court found interracial marriage unconstitutional. Who knew?

You guys might want check that last line. And since the editorial board staff apparently isn't spending it's time editing its own work, perhaps they could explain why everyone should welcome some people's beliefs and lifestyles with open arms but we should consider the beliefs of those who disagree to be shameful.

Perhaps there's an 'evolutionary advantage' that I'm missing.

# 5

[May 17, 2008 7:31 AM]

BUD

yeah this open marriage thing solves some tax/estate issues too..on your death bed you can marry your kids and leave them your retirement plan and house and maybe a business tax free... and if you see someone without medical coverage going through some "procedures" marry them and stick the insurance co. with the loss--drive up premiums for the rest of the folks at your employment--so what.

# 6

[May 17, 2008 8:50 AM]

c. trejbal

The 1948 California decision in Perez v. Sharp found California's anti-miscegenation law unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia in 1967.

You can listen to the oral arguments in the Loving case.

# 7

[May 17, 2008 12:39 PM]

Henry

Last I heard, interracial adoption in state foster care is still against the law in NC. Hopefully, that have changed that.

# 8

[May 17, 2008 1:27 PM]

C Ramsey

Yes Christian, that's correct. However, your teaser said they found interracial marriage unconstitutional. That's a far cry from finding laws prohibiting it unconstitutional.

# 9

[May 17, 2008 2:06 PM]

c. trejbal

I apologize for the typo. It has been corrected.

Post a comment





Search


Quick Thought

  • We're tweeting -

    The RT is now on twitter.com. To get updates and alerts about what's happening on The Roanoke Times editorial blog, click here, then click "follow." We'll send out updates when we put up the day's editorial and commentary for discussion.

  • Valid e-mail now required -

    From now on, in order to comment to The RT, we will require a valid e-mail address.

    We will conduct random checks to ensure that addresses are valid. The address you submit is not public, and not accessible to spam bots. It will not be used for any other purpose than verification.

    In addition, please remember that this is intended to be a forum for polite and respectful debate. Personal attacks against fellow commenters or the editorial page staff of The Roanoke Times will not be allowed. Address the argument, not the person.

    We will continue to delete any libelous comments.

    Thank you

  • Welcome to The RT -

    Welcome to The RT. That’s The Roanoke Times RoundTable, our new editorial page blog.

    What The RT becomes will be largely up to readers. But we envision a place for a healthy and civil dialogue among The Roanoke Times editorial page staff and the community.

    Read more.

Recent comments

  • I apologize for the typo. It has been corrected.more - c. trejbal
  • Yes Christian, that's correct. However, your teaser said they found interracial marriage unconstitutional. That's a ...more - C Ramsey
  • Last I heard, interracial adoption in state foster care is still against the law in ...more - Henry
  • The 1948 California decision in Perez v. Sharp found California's anti-miscegenation law unconstitutional. The U.S. ...more - c. trejbal
  • yeah this open marriage thing solves some tax/estate issues too..on your death bed you can ...more - BUD

About this blog

The Roanoke Times editorial staff engages readers in a respectful dialogue and exchange of opinion, including our virtual editorial board where you can discuss tomorrow's editorials today. Read more about the editorial staff

E-mail address for roanoke.com

RSS feed

.....Advertisement.....